Tag Archives: christianity

The Best Time to Take Down Your Christmas Tree

07 Thursday Jan 2021

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The holidays are officially behind us. Christmas and the New Year have seemingly come and gone in the blink of an eye, and now you may be wondering when the best time is to take down your Christmas décor. Many of us would like to close the chapter on 2020, but there is no denying that there is something magical about the Christmas season that several of us would like to hold on to as long as possible. So, when is the best time to put away your Christmas tree?

To us, there are two schools of thought. If you like to pay attention to the calendar, there is an easy answer. According to Christian tradition, you should keep your tree up until the 12th Night of Christmas, which commemorates the arrival of the Three Wisemen.

As straightforward as the 12th Night sounds, unfortunately, that is not exactly the case. Different religions have different starting points, which makes pinning down the 12th Night a bit more challenging. The Church of England starts the 12 Days of Christmas on December 24, but the Catholic religion starts it on December 25, making January 6 (Epiphany) the 12th and final day of Christmas. If you were waiting for the ideal time to take down your decorations, that day has arrived.

But, as we mentioned time and time again; however, these past nine months have been unlike any other period many of us have seen in our lifetimes. To cope with the uncertainty, many people decided to put up their Christmas decorations earlier than they would have in the past, which brings us to the second theory.

If the sight of twinkling lights and beautiful ornaments still brings you joy on January 7, we would encourage you to leave your tree up as long as you wish. Arguably, the most magical part of the holidays, is the kindness that people associate with the season, so who are we to say when that feeling should end?

From all of us at Lions Pride, we hope you’ll keep the spirit of the holidays alive as long as you can, regardless of when you decide to take down your Christmas tree.

History of Friday the 13th & How to Increase Your Luck

12 Thursday Jul 2018

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Beware of black cats, ladders and mirrors in the coming days because Friday the 13th isLuckyClover.png upon us! For centuries, many have harbored the idea that this particular brings with it spouts of bad luck. Although it’s exact origin remains a mystery, there are a few clues that could teach us where paraskavededkatriaphobia stems from.

Our western culture has long considered 12 as the perfect number as it shows a sign of completeness. There are 12 days of Christmas, 12 months in a year and two 12-hour increments in a single day. Since the number 13 follows so closely on the heels of the ideal number, it is found to be lacking and unusual and often signifies a fear of the unknown.

Arguably, the most famous story for the unlucky 13 comes from Christianity. According to biblical tradition, Jesus was accompanied by his 12 apostles on Maundy Thursday. The next day, Good Friday, he was crucified. The seating arrangement is believed to have given rise to the longstanding superstition.

If you are one of the estimated 21 million Americans who suffer from fear of Friday the 13th, we have a few interesting ideas to increase your luck in the next 24 hours.

  1. Think positive thoughts

    Studies have shown that optimism can relieve stress and help you live longer. Have you ever noticed when you wake up in a bad mood, negative effects often ensue? Try thinking positively from the moment you get up, and we can bet a good day will follow.

  2. Use a lucky charm

    You have likely talked to someone who swears by a lucky charm. Whether it’s a rabbit’s foot or favorite pair of socks, a lucky charm can help you feel luckier, happier and more optimistic – find one that works for you.

  3. Increase your karma

    Remember the age-old guideline of “what goes around, comes around.” If you do good for others, luck will follow by returning the good back to you.

How do you feel about this unlucky day? Do you have any rituals to prepare you for the upcoming day of terror? Tell us in the comments below.

Happy Friday the 13th from Lions Pride!

The Symbols of Easter

29 Thursday Mar 2018

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If you’ve stepped into a retail store sometime in the past few weeks, you know thatJoyful Easter rabbits, pastel-colored boxes and candy of all shapes and sizes have recently taken up residence in the seasonal aisle. We know that Easter is traditionally known as a religious holiday, have you ever wondered where these symbols got their origin?

We did, too, and after a bit of research, we think we found the answers!

Believe it or not, these characters are said to pre-date Christianity. The origin of the word, “Easter”’ stems from Eostre, the Germanic goddess of spring. Each year, on or around the 21st of March, the Celtic people would celebrate Ostara. Although it sounds like a holiday, it was seen as an opportunity to be in tune with the changing of the seasons.

Because the Spring Equinox is known as a time of rebirth, it has strong ties to fertility and sowing seeds. The symbol of the rabbit first appeared during medieval times in Europe. Hares had been known to be nocturnal most of the year, but in March when the mating season began, bunnies could be seen everywhere. In no time at all, the hare became known as a major symbol of fertility.

As for chocolate and candy, you will not be surprised to learn that we could find evidence of existence during the original Celtic celebrations. We can likely assume the abundance of candy can be rooted back to Catholic traditions. Christians typically sacrifice items they enjoy during the Lenten season such as rich food items like meat, soda or candy. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the end of Lent by indulging in sweets.

There you have it – some of the best-known origins of Easter. What is your favorite symbol of Easter/Spring Equinox?

It indeed is a remarkable time of the year. After a long winter season, it’s amazing to see our beautiful land coming back to life. We hope you have a chance to take a moment to appreciate spring’s arrival as you celebrate with your family this weekend.

Happy Easter from Lions Pride!

The Origins of the Easter Bunny

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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OsterhaseIf you are familiar with the Christian religion, you know that Easter is upon us. You have likely already seen many different variations of crosses and lilies, but have you ever wondered how the bunny got included in the event?

No, you’re not mistaken, there are certainly no bunnies or eggs mentioned in the Bible, and the exact history of the Easter bunny is a bit cloudy.

Our beloved rabbit has been thought to come from Pagan traditions brought from Germany. Many sources believe that the Easter bunny first came to American in the 1700s along with German immigrants. They had a story in which the hare known as “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws,” would deliver decorative eggs to well-behaved children who prepared him a nest. Since then, Oster has come to be known as the Easter bunny.

As we have previously mentioned, although the Easter bunny is not found in the Scriptures, you may be surprised to learn that there is a connection between the bunny and Jesus Christ. The egg delivered by the Easter bunny is a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ. CatholicCulture.org says “just as the chick breaks through the shell when it is hatched, and begins its life, so Christ comes forth living from the apparently lifeless tomb.” Who knew?

And there you have it, the best-known origins of the Easter bunny! How do you plan to celebrate the upcoming holiday?

The Lions Pride office will be closed Friday, April 14, to celebrate the occasion with our families. We’d like to wish you and yours a Happy Easter!

Bunnies, Eggs and Candy… Oh My!

17 Thursday Apr 2014

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You most likely know that Easter is this Sunday, but do you know where all the whimsical characters and customs of the religious holiday came from?
ImageThe Easter Bunny (also known as Peter Cottontail or Peter Rabbit) stems from early Christianity.  Easter is celebrated in early spring, a time associated with rebirth and renewal.  Many pagan cultures held festival to celebrate this joyous time of year. One festival, in particular, honored Eostre who was closely linked to the hare.  As the Christian faith grew, it became good practice for missionaries to place pagan ideas and rituals within the Christian context  turning these festivals into Christian holidays.  We have also seen this practice repeated at Christmas with Santa Claus.

The Easter egg is also seen a sign of rebirth and renewal.

It has been said that this custom began to celebrate the end of Lent. Since eggs were once a forbidden food during the Lenten season, Christians would decorate them with dyes and paints to mark the end of the fasting and penance.  They would then eat the colorful eggs on Easter Sunday.

The candy that fills our children’s Easter baskets also goes back to Lent.  Since Christians typically sacrifice rich food items during the Lenten season like meat, soda or candy, we celebrate the end of Lent by indulging in some sweets.

There you have it; some of the known origins about Easter. What is your favorite part of the Easter?  The Lions Pride staff wishes you a happy Easter.

Sources: http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/easter-symbols
http://mentalfloss.com/article/21411/where-did-easter-bunny-come